Automatic bobbin winding machine



A ril 23, 1963 5. A. LEACH 3,085,720

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvmlor- April 23, 1963 G. A. LEACH 3,

AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1961 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 United This invention relates to improvements in automatic bobbin winding machines, in which a series of bobbins is supported in end-to-end relation on a winding spindle for successively filling with thread, and more particularly to devices for preventing loose coils or entanglement of thread when a winding operation is shifted from a filled bobbin to an empty one.

In a bobbin winding machine forming the subject matter of Patent No. 2,935,268, granted May 3, 1960, upon application of G. I. Barbati it has been found that under some conditions difficulty is encountered by slack thread and entanglement on a ferrule of an empty bobbin as a winding operation progresses from a filled one to the empty one. Slack or entanglement of thread at this point in a winding operation is a handicap, inasmuch as it causes irregularities and enlargements on the wound thread surface, so that when the thread is withdrawn into a sewing machine the irregularities and enlargements on the external surface of the thread are likely to result in irregular thread tension from stitch to stitch and occasional thread breakage.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide convenient means for easy installation on the machine of the prior patent above referred to, which may readily be adjusted to compensate for different winding conditions and which is effective to prevent slack or entanglement of the thread during the winding operation.

A subsidiary object is to provide means in a bobbin winding machine for preventing formation of slack and entanglement of thread while retaining simplicity and economy of construction characterizing the machine of the prior patent.

To achieve the foregoing objects the present machine is provided with a base, a spindle journaled in the base for supporting a plurality of bobbins being wound and a carriage mounted for stepwise movement lengthwise of the spindle to successive bobbin winding positions, each corresponding to one bobbin of the series, in which an elongated bar is mounted on the base to extend in parallel relation to the winding spindle at a position where loops of slack thread are thrown out while the operation is being transferred from a filled bobbin to, an adjacent empty one. The bar acts to confine and to prevent increase in size of a loop temporarily formed by slack in the thread until the Winding spindle has had an opportunity to absorb it. Thus, the empty bobbin rotates sufficiently to take up the amount released when the speed of winding is reduced by the ratio of the full diameter of a filled supply on a bobbin to a much smaller diameter of the ferrule in the empty bobbin, the winding spindle rotating continuously at a fixed speed. Preferably the bar is adjustably mounted on the base of the machine and, in the illustrated form of'the invention, a block is rotatable about a stud extending from the base in parallel relation to the winding spindle. To retain adjustment of 3,086,720 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 the bar the block is pressed against a shoulder on the stud by a compression spring, so that the bar is held at whatever spacing it may be adjusted to with relation to the flanges of the bobbins on the winding spindle.

These and other features of the invention, as hereinafter described and claimed, will be apparent to those skilled in the m from the following detailed specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic view in front elevation of a portion of a bobbin winding machine embodying the features of the present invention FIG. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of the winding spindle of the machine with bobbins thereon, parts being shown in section and the view illustrating the operation of the slack thread and entanglement preventing bar;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bobbins and winding spindle shown on a somewhat enlarged scale, illustrating the manner of operation of the bar in preventing slack thread and entanglement; and

FIG. 4 is a detail view on a still further enlarged scale taken in the same direction as FIG. 2, and illustrating the manner in which the bar delays enlargement of a loop of slack thread produced when the winding operation is transferred from a filled bobbin to an empty one.

The presence of irregularities in winding and enlarge ments about the outer periphery of a wound sewing machine bobbin not only cause improper formation of stitches when the bobbins are utilized, but also result in thread wastage and more frequent replacement of bobbins in operating the machine than is desirable. Unless the windings are applied evenly and smoothly to a bobbin the bobbin will not be able to hold its full capacity of thread for effective use in a sewing machine. In certain instances the winding operation itself will be interrupted by the presence of slack as a result of thread breakage, the thread becoming entangled with stationary parts on the machine.

The illustrated machine being similar in most respects to that disclosed in the Barbati patent above referred to, has a winding spindle 10 rotatably mounted in a base 12. The right hand end of the winding spindle projects sufiiciently to receive six bobbins 14 supported in end to end relation by a knurled nut 16 threaded onto the spindle. Co-operating with each bobbin, beginning with the one at the outer end of the spindle is a thread controller or finger 18 secured to an upright arm of a lever 20 pivotally mounted for radial movement relatively to the spindle by a pin 22 on a carriage 24 slidingly mounted for movement lengthwise of the winding spindle 10. The finger 18 is rocked on its pivot pin toward the spindle by a spring 25 stretched between a rearwardly extending arm of the lever 20 and the machine base 12 to enter the space between the flanges of each bobbin successively by means of an index pawl 26 slidably mounted for vertical movement in the carriage 24. The index pawl 26 co-operates with vertical surfaces on teeth formed on a notched index bar 28 and is actuated toward and from the teeth by a spool 30 secured to the pawl 26 and engaged by a pin 32 carried by a rearwardly extending arm of the lever 20. As the finger 18 enters between the flanges of an empty bobbin it is held from actual contact with the ferrule of the bobbin, but as soon as the winding operation has laid a single layer of thread on the bobbin it is engaged and starts to move outwardly by the thread as the bobbin 1s filled. After filling completely the bobbin, the pawl 26 is disengaged from the ratchet bar 28 and the carriage with the finger 1 8 is moved along the spindle to the next succeeding unfilled bobbin by a chain 33 connected between the carriage and a weight 34, as more fully described in the prior patents. To direct the thread between the flanges of each bobbin it passes through a guide eye in a plunger 35 carried by the carriage 24. The plunger is located at a sutficient distance from the spindle to cause the bobbins to be wound evenly between their flanges.

As each winding operation is transferred from a filled bobbin to an empty one the linear speed of movement of the thread running to the winding spindle is abruptly changed, the winding spindle being rotated uniformly at a relatively'high speed. The difierence in diameter between the outer surface of a filled bobbin and that of the ferrule in an empty one is such that the linear speed of the thread is suddenly reduced by a ratio of three to one, after crossing the adjacent flanges of a filled to an empty one. In thus reducing the speed of the thread, either by inertia of the thread or by reason of a sudden unwinding action imparted to the thread already wound on the filled bobbin, considerable slack occurs, as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 4. The slack thread is likely to form a loop 36 extending radially from the filled bobbin and by reason of centrifugal force tends to expand itself into a troublesome size. Such expanded loop, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 4, may be snared about some sta tionary part of the machine, so as to become broken or otherwise to form a snarl 38 indicated in FIG. 4, which will eventually be drawn against the ferrule of the bobbin to provide an enlargement in the surface of the thread engaged by the controller finger 18. When the enlargement caused by the snarl 38 contacts the controller finger it may cause it to vibrate excessively during the subsequent rotations of the spindle and possibly to be thrown from the broken line position of FIG. 4 to the full line position before that bobbin is completely filled with thread. In any event it may prevent the bobbin from being completely filled with thread within the space defined by the flanges or from becoming engaged smoothly with succeeding layers of thread on the bobbin so as to insure easy withdrawal of thread during use of the bobbin. During use of a bobbin having an enlargement or snarl formed within its windings there is considerable likelihood that the presence of the snarl will affect adversely the operation being performed, whether it be sewing or other procedure. For instance, in many sewing machines, the withdrawal of thread from a bobbin must be without substantial variation in resistance from one stitch to another, inasmuch as such machine may be extremely sensitive to slight variations in tension.

To avoid the difflculties involved in providing and using bobbins having the thread snarled or formed with enlargements in the outer surfaces of its windings, the machine of the present invention is provided with a slack reducing, thread deflecting bar 40 extending in parallel relation to the winding spindle across the flanges of the bobbins at the opposite side from the thread directing eye in the plunger 35 where the oncoming thread is already laid against that on the bobbins. As illustrated in FIG. 3 the bar 40 guides the thread as the winding operation is transferred from a filled bobbin to an empty one and directs the thread more smoothly beneath the control finger 18 of the Winding machine. If centrifugal force tends to cause a loop of thread, such as that shown at 36 in FIG. 4, to expand radially from the winding spindle 10, it will engage the deflecting bar 40, as shown in full finger 1'8 with such loops, as might well occur without the deflecting bar.

To mount the thread deflecting bar on the machine the base above the spindle 10 has threaded into it a shouldered stud 42, on which the bar has adjustable mounting means for convenience in movement toward and from the spindle. To accommodate bobbins having flanges of diflerent diameters, or in accordance with varying characteristics of the thread being wound, the stud is disposed parallel to the spindle so that the bar 40, as it swings about the stud maintains the same distance from all of the bobbins. Such adjustable mounting means also is of advantage in case of servicing the machine Where access to the winding spindle is desirable without dismantling the machine in other respects.

The thread deflecting bar 40 has an L-shaped form, the shorter arm of which is supported an opening in a block 44 rotatably mounted on a reduced portion of the stud 42 beyond its shoulder. To retain the block and bar 'adjustably in position, the block is forced yieldingly against the shoulder of the stud by a compression spring 46 held in place by check nuts 48' threaded on the outer end of the stud.

With certain types of thread, variations in characteristics make it desirable to adjust the thread deflecting bar somewhat closer to the flanges of the bobbin than with other types. Thus, with stiff thread there appears to be a greater tendency for slack and entanglement to occur in the thread than with soft, flexible thread. Also, in advance of a winding operation the thread is usually conducted through a wax pot containing material for moditying the characteristics of the thread in certain particulars.

One type of thread treatment given in the wax pot may thus require a different adjustment of the thread deflecting bar from that of another type of thread treatment. Furthermore, when the thread is wound with a heavy tension the thread deflecting bar may be moved a substantial distance away from the bobbin or may not be required at In this case it is merely swung about the stud 42 until it is clear of the winding spindle.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated and a particular embodiment having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A machine for winding thread from a supply onto a series of flanged bobbins, including,

(a) la base,

(b) a spindle rotatable in the base for supporting the series of bobbins in end-to-end relation.

(0) a carriage mounted for stepwise movement lengthwise of the spindle to successive bobbin winding positions, each corresponding to a bobbin of the series,

(d) means on the carriage for guiding the thread as it is being wound, comprising a thread controller movable between the flanges of the bobbin to engage the thread on the bobbin as it is being wound and to be moved outwardly by the thread as the bobbin is filled, and

(e) a member on the carriage formed with an eye for directing the thread to the bobbin being wound, with freedom for axial movement to enable filling the bobbin being wound evenly between its flanges, in combination with (f) a thread deflecting bar extending in parallel relation to the winding spindle at a side of the spindle where the oncoming thread is already laid against that on the bobbin to reduce formation of an excessively large loop of thread resulting from change in linear thread speed as the thread moves from the outer diameter of a filled bobbin to the inner diameter of a succeeding empty bobbin.

2. A machine for winding thread from a supply onto a series "of flanged bobbins as in claim 1, in which there is provided,

(g) adjustable means for mounting the thread deflect- 6 ing bar on the base for movement toward and from hair in the position to which it is moved relatively to the spindle to accommodate bobbins having flanges the winding spindle. of different diameters and variations in chai'acteris 4. A machine for Winding thread from a supply onto tics of the thread being wound. a series of flanged bobbins as in claim 1, in which the 3. A machine for Winding thread tfirom a supply onto 5 thread deflecting bar a sen'es of flanged bobbins as in claim 2, in which the (1') Xte11d$ QQFOSS the flanges of the bobbins the l dj m mounting means comprises opposite side from the thread directing eye on the (h) a shouldered stud secured to the base, a block crotatably mounted on the stud adjacent to the shoulder and arranged to support the thread deflecting 10 References Cited in the file of this patent bar, and UNITED STATES PATENTS (i) yielding means for pressing the block against the 2,815,905 Birchler et a1. Dec. 10, 1957 shoulder on the stud to retain the thread deflecting 2,935,268 Bambati May 3, 1960 

1. A MACHINE FOR WINDING THREAD FROM A SUPPLY ONTO A SERIES OF FLANGED BOBBINS, INCLUDING, (A) A BASE, (B) A SPINDLE ROTATABLE IN THE BASE FOR SUPPORTING THE SERIES OF BOBBINS IN END-TO-END RELATION. (C) A CARRIAGE MOUNTED FOR STEPWISE MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF THE SPINDLE TO SUCCESSIVE BOBBIN WINDING POSITIONS, EACH CORRESPONDING TO A BOBBIN OF THE SERIES, (D) MEANS ON THE CARRIAGE FOR GUIDING THE THREAD AS IT IS BEING WOUND, COMPRISING A THREAD CONTROLLER MOVABLE BETWEEN THE FLANGES OF THE BOBBIN TO ENGAGE THE THREAD ON THE BOBBIN AS IT IS BEING WOUND AND TO BE MOVED OUTWARDLY BY THE THREAD AS THE BOBBIN IS FILLED, AND (E) A MEMBER ON THE CARRIAGE FORMED WITH AN EYE FOR DIRECTING THE THREAD TO THE BOBBIN BEING WOUND, WITH FREEDOM FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT TO ENABLE FILLING THE BOBBIN BEING WOUND EVENLY BETWEEN ITS FLANGES, IN COMBINATION WITH (F) A THREAD DEFLECTING BAR EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE WINDING SPINDLE AT A SIDE OF THE SPINDLE WHERE THE ONCOMING THREAD IS ALREADY LAID AGAINST THAT ON THE BOBBIN TO REDUCE FORMATION OF AN EXCESSIVELY LARGE LOOP OF THREAD RESULTING FROM CHANGE IN LINEAR THREAD SPEED AS THE THREAD MOVES FROM THE OUTER DIAMETER OF A FILLED BOBBIN TO THE INNER DIAMETER OF A SUCCEEDING EMPTY BOBBIN. 